2009 Draft day draws near. 2006 draft= No Hawk?

The Green Bay Packers were trying to work a deal to move down out of the number #5 slot and their plan was to take Antonio Cromartie with their first selection later in the first round. The Packers wanted a 2nd round pick to move down in the first round and that was too much for any teams blood that day.

As we know they stood pat at #5 and took AJ Hawk with the fifth selection in the first round.

I liked Cromartie going into that draft. He was a solid pick I thought for San Diego at # 19. I knew the Packers wouldn't take him at #5, but I wonder if Woodson would have already made the move to safety and Harris and Cromartie would have been the corners the last few years. I think that would have made a huge positive difference in the quality of that defense over the past couple years.

I like AJ but he needs to have a break out year this year or I really have to put him in the "bust" category of players from the 2006 draft.

The Packers situation is somewhat similar this year with a high pick in the draft. I was for them moving down in that draft as I thought they would take Hawk. 2006 was a good draft for LB's going in and I thought they could get a LB as good as Hawk in the second round. I would like to see them keep the #9 this year.

Some will say taking another highly regarded Ohio State player with a high pick is not what the Packers should do.

The thought of a jinx regarding players coming out of Ohio State is a completely ridiculous notion brought on by journalists who have nothing better to write about.

I liked in Peter King's column when he told the story of someone at the combine asking James Laurinitis "When's the last time an Ohio State linebacker was worth a s--t?". And honestly, they have a point. Hawk, Carpenter, what was that other dude, Katzenmoyer or something? None of them have been as good as they were in college.

I wouldn't put Hawk in the bust category. I would say he's just kind of there. He hasn't lived up to potential, but he's not a bad player though. He's neither boom nor bust.

Chris Speilman ftw. And I always thought that Katz would have been a monster if not for his injury. But I have said it before and I'll say it again, 3 of the 4 NFC North teams went for a linebacker in the first round. Green Bay had the pick of the litter and wound up with the lesser of the three. Greenway played at a Pro Bowl level last year, but didn't have the name recognition, and Ernie Simms could be beastly if they can get anyone else on that D to play. Aaron Curry would do that.